Ken Wyatt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Wyatt
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Wyatt in 2014
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| Minister for Indigenous Australians | |
| In office 29 May 2019 – 23 May 2022 |
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| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Nigel Scullion |
| Succeeded by | Linda Burney |
| Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care | |
| In office 24 January 2017 – 29 May 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Himself (as assistant minister) |
| Succeeded by | Richard Colbeck |
| Minister for Indigenous Health | |
| In office 24 January 2017 – 29 May 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Warren Snowdon (2013) |
| Succeeded by | Abolished |
| Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care | |
| In office 30 September 2015 – 24 January 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Fiona Nash |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Minister for Aged Care) David Gillespie (as Assistant Minister for Health) |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Hasluck |
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| In office 21 August 2010 – 21 May 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Sharryn Jackson |
| Succeeded by | Tania Lawrence |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kenneth George Wyatt
4 August 1952 Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia |
| Political party | Independent (since 2023) |
| Other political affiliations |
Liberal (until 2023) |
| Spouses |
Anna-Maria Palermo
(m. 2010)Roza Veskovich (div.) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Cedric Wyatt (cousin) Ben Wyatt (second cousin) |
| Occupation | Public servant |
| Profession | Teacher |
Kenneth George Wyatt (born 4 August 1952) is an Australian former politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2022. He represented the area of Division of Hasluck for the Liberal Party.
Ken Wyatt made history as the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the House of Representatives. He was also the first Indigenous person to serve as a government minister. Later, he became the first Indigenous person appointed to the cabinet.
He was appointed Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health in January 2017. Before that, he was an assistant minister from September 2015. In May 2019, he became the Minister for Indigenous Australians. This role meant he was part of the most important group of ministers, the cabinet. At the 2022 federal election, Ken Wyatt lost his seat.
On 6 April 2023, Ken Wyatt left the Liberal Party. This was because the party decided to oppose the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
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Early Life and Background
Kenneth George Wyatt was born on 4 August 1952 in Bunbury, Western Australia. He has a mixed background, including English, Irish, Indian, and Indigenous Australian heritage.
He was born at Roelands Aboriginal Mission. This was a place where young Indigenous children were taken from their families. His mother, Mona Abdullah, was part of the Stolen Generations. She was removed from her parents and moved to Roelands, where she met his father, Don. Ken's father has Yamatji and Irish family roots. His mother has Wongi and Noongar ancestry. Her last name, Abdullah, comes from an ancestor who came from India to work as a cameleer. This ancestor helped build the trans-Australia telegraph line.
Before Politics
Before he became a politician, Ken Wyatt worked as a senior public servant. He focused on Aboriginal health and education. He was the Director of the WA Office of Aboriginal Health. He also held a similar job with NSW Health. He was also the Director of Aboriginal Education for the WA Department of Education.
His Career in Politics
Ken Wyatt was a member of the Liberal Party.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In the 2010 election, Ken Wyatt ran for the Liberal Party in the area of Division of Hasluck. He won the seat, beating the person who held it before him. He became the first Aboriginal person elected to the Australian House of Representatives. He was the third Indigenous person elected to the Australian Parliament overall.
After he was elected, he received some unkind messages. These messages were from people who said they would not have voted for him if they knew he was Indigenous.
On 28 September 2010, Ken Wyatt went to the opening of the Australian Parliament. He wore a traditional Booka. This is a coat made of kangaroo skin with feathers from a red-tailed black cockatoo. This coat shows a leadership role in Noongar culture. Noongar elders had given him the cloak. He gave his first speech to the Parliament on 29 September. He received a standing ovation from everyone there.
Becoming a Minister
On 20 September 2015, the Prime Minister announced that Ken Wyatt would become Assistant Minister for Health. This made him the first Indigenous person to be a frontbencher in the federal parliament. A frontbencher is a minister or a shadow minister.
In February 2016, his duties grew to include aged care. Then, in January 2017, Ken Wyatt became the first Indigenous Australian to be a full Australian Government Minister. He was responsible for Aged Care and the new area of Indigenous Health.
Minister for Indigenous Australians
Ken Wyatt kept his seat in the May 2019 federal election. After the election, he was appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians. He was the first Indigenous person to hold this important position. He was also moved up to the cabinet, which is the most senior group of ministers.
In July 2019, he spoke about the theme for NAIDOC Week 2019: "Voice. Treaty. Truth." He said he would work to find a way for Indigenous people to be recognised in the Australian Constitution. He wanted this to be put to a vote by the public. He also talked about creating a "voice" for Indigenous people at local, regional, and national levels. He said that states and territories should lead the work on Indigenous treaties. For "truth-telling," he would work on ways to move forward with sharing the true history.
In January 2022, Ken Wyatt announced that the government had secured the copyright for the Australian Aboriginal flag. This happened after talks with the flag's designer, Harold Thomas.
At the 2022 federal election, Ken Wyatt lost his seat to the Labor candidate.
Indigenous Voice to Government
In October 2019, Ken Wyatt announced a plan to create an "Indigenous voice to government". This "voice" would help Indigenous people have a say in government decisions. A group of leaders and experts worked together to develop ideas for this "Voice."
In June 2022, the Liberal Party in Western Australia voted against the Voice. Ken Wyatt said he was very disappointed by this decision.
Leaving the Liberal Party
In March 2023, Ken Wyatt stood with the Prime Minister as the wording for the proposed constitutional change was announced.
On 6 April 2023, Ken Wyatt resigned from the Liberal Party. This was because the party decided to support the "No" vote in the Voice referendum. He said that he still believed in the values of the Liberal Party. However, he felt the party had changed. He said, "Aboriginal people are reaching out to be heard but the Liberals have rejected their invitation."
In April 2025, Ken Wyatt said he supports Welcome to Country ceremonies. He believes these events should not have political interference.
Awards and Recognition
- 1996: Member of the Order of Australia for his work in Aboriginal health.
- 2001: Centenary Medal.
Personal Life
Ken Wyatt first got married when he was 21 to Roza Veskovich. They had two sons. They separated after 25 years of marriage. One of his sons is a professional classical musician.
In December 2010, Ken Wyatt married Anna-Maria Palermo. They met at an education conference and got married in Italy.
Ken Wyatt's cousin, Cedric Wyatt, was an important public servant and Indigenous rights supporter. Cedric's son, Ben Wyatt, is Ken's second cousin. Ben was also a politician and served as the Treasurer of Western Australia. He was also Western Australia's Aboriginal Affairs Minister. This meant Ken and Ben were counterparts in their roles.
See also
- Political families of Australia
